Datchworth’s story
16 listed buildings, 1 of them Grade II*
Historic England lists them inside Datchworth’s built-up area.
19% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.
Explore the history →
DatchworthHertfordshire
13% of commuters get to work on foot, by bike or by public transport. It is a village of 1,179 residents in Hertfordshire, East of England.
7 places within 12 milesMap →
Photo: Bikeboy · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
1,179
Census 2021 · East Hertfordshire council
Median home
£635K
39 sales in 3 years
Median age
52.1
28% are 65+ · Hertfordshire 17%
Degree level
36%
of residents 16+ · England 34%
Walk, cycle, bus
13%
of commuters · England 27%
Is Datchworth a good place to live?
Safety is its strong suit: 8.8 violent or sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, plus 5.4 home and vehicle crimes. It also does well on health (A): life expectancy is 82.1 for men and 87 for women. Its lowest grade is for cost of living (C−) — homes sell for a median £635,000, about 9.1 times local household income. Its other grades sit near the middle: B− for schools, C+ for walkability and B− for hazard risk.
Figures: crime, police.uk, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026 · life expectancy, ONS · prices, HM Land Registry, the last three years · commuting, Census 2021 · flood risk, Environment Agency. Datchworth is graded on each subject, but towns under 2,500 get no overall grade.
What makes Datchworth stand out
The 3 things Datchworth does most differently from other towns.
Listed buildings per 10,000 residents
History
1 Grade II*, including Church of All Saints; 5.6 times the typical UK town for its size
Historic England’s list, October 2026.
Median sale, £ thousands
Housing
2.3 times the typical UK town’s £277K
Standard sales, September 2023 to August 2026.
Walk, cycle or public transport
Getting around
13% leave the car
of commuters walk, cycle or take public transport (England’s towns 27%)
How Datchworth grades
Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within England), ordered by how far Datchworth is from typical. American towns are graded separately.
Datchworth is graded on each subject, but towns under 2,500 get no overall grade.
SafetyVery little crime by comparisonA+Open →Jobs & incomeNear the top of the towns comparedAOpen →HealthGraded on how healthy residents areAOpen →Cost of livingHomes are harder to afford than in most townsC−Open →WalkabilityNear typical for the towns comparedC+Open →SchoolsPrimary results beat 50% of towns in EnglandB−Open →Hazard risk0.2% of homes at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers or the seaB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
HistoryBased on listed places, the town’s age and notable peopleB+Open →Outdoors76% live within 400 m of a park; 10.8 ha of public green space per 1,000 residentsC+Open →Civic life4.2 local charities per 1,000 residents; 0% live within 1 km of a libraryBOpen →
How TownRatings grades towns →
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Datchworth.
Safety
Fewer crimes per resident in Datchworth than in 95% of UK towns
Among the 1,541 UK towns of 1,000 to 2,500 people, Datchworth has less crime per resident than 90% of them. 20 crimes and 20 reports of anti-social behaviour: that is what police recorded inside the town’s built-up area in the 12 months to August 2026. There were 16.1 anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 residents (not graded), higher than both Hertfordshire’s towns (14.2) and England’s towns (7.8). Violence and sexual offences accounted for 55% of recorded crime.
8.8violent and sexual offences per 1,000 a yearA+Safety Grade
Compared with UK towns its sizeLess crime per resident than 90% of the 1,541 UK towns of 1,000 to 2,500 people: less crime than most for its size. Context only, not part of the grade.
Reports by type · Sep 2025 to Aug 2026
Violence & sexual11
Public order2
Other crime2
Damage & arson1
Other theft1
Burglary1
Vehicle crime1
Weapons1
Anti-social20
Not gradedAnti-social behaviour, shoplifting and other theft are shown but left out of the Safety Grade, which counts violence and crimes against homes and vehicles per resident.
8.8
violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
5.4
burglary, vehicle crime and damage per 1,000 a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
16.1
anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 (not graded)
20
crimes recorded in the 12 months to August 2026
data.police.uk street-level crime · points inside the ONS built-up-area boundary · OGL · The police category of violence and sexual offences includes harassment and stalking.
SchoolsB−
Exam results at Datchworth’s schools top 51% of towns in England
62% of pupils at the 7 primary schools within 3 km met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (three-year average). The town has one school, shown below. Its one primary school teaches 120 pupils.
B−School Grade
| School | Level | Pupils | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Saints Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, DatchworthLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 120 | A |
Department for Education · GIAS, Key Stage 2 and GCSE resultsThe Schools page →
Health
Life expectancy in Datchworth is longer than in 87% of UK towns
The nearest A&E to Datchworth is Lister Hospital, 5.4 miles away. Just over four fifths of the town’s residents described their health as good or very good at the census, lower than Hertfordshire’s towns (85%) and near England’s towns (82%). Seeing a GP means leaving Datchworth: the nearest practice is 1.3 miles away.
82%good or very good healthAHealth Grade
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 82%Fair 14%Bad or very bad 4%
| Census 2021 | Datchworth | Hertfordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 82% | 85% | 82% |
| Bad or very bad health | 4.3% | 3.8% | 5.2% |
| Disabled (Equality Act) | 17% | 14% | 17% |
82.1
life expectancy at birth, men (2019–23)
87
life expectancy at birth, women
ONS Census 2021, general health and disability · OHID Fingertips, life expectancy 2019–23 · OGL · These shares come straight from the census, without allowing for age, and young towns benefit; the Health Grade instead weighs age-adjusted measures, including life expectancy and early deaths.
HousingCost of living grade C−
Private renting is less common in Datchworth than in Hertfordshire’s towns or across England’s towns: 9%
Owners make up 71% of households. Social housing holds a fifth of households, above both Hertfordshire’s towns (18%) and England’s towns (18%). Private rents average £1,533 a month across the East Hertfordshire council area.
£635Kmedian sale
Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
Datchworth£635K
Typical UK town£277K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | £750,000 | 22 |
| Semi-detached | £575,000 | 7 |
| Terraced | £525,000 | 7 |
71%
of households own their home · England 61%
9%
rent privately · England 21%
£1,533
average private rent a month, East Hertfordshire council area
£2,419
council tax, Band D, 2026–27
HM Land Registry Price Paid · ONS private rents · MHCLG / Welsh Government council tax · ONS Census 2021 tenure · OGL
History
Datchworth’s heritage list runs to 16 buildings
The heritage lists give each building’s grade but not its age, so we don’t say which is oldest.
19% of homes were built before 1919. For its size, Datchworth has 136 listed buildings per 10,000 residents, higher than both Hertfordshire’s towns (53) and England’s towns (39). Grade II* covers 1 of them.
16listed buildingsB+History Grade
Listed buildings by grade · Historic England
Grade I0
Grade II*1
Grade II15
Among them · Grade II*
- Church of All Saints Grade II*
0
scheduled monuments
0
registered parks and gardens
19%
of homes built before 1919 · typical UK town 15%
136
listed buildings per 10,000 residents · typical UK town 24
Historic England list, October 2026 · Valuation Office Agency, homes by build period · OGL
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A
Long commutes are the norm in Datchworth: just 18% travel under 5 km, below Hertfordshire’s towns and England’s towns
The Census was taken on 21 March 2021, in lockdown, so 45% of workers were mainly at home; shares here are of those who travelled.
83% of commuters drove, higher than both Hertfordshire’s towns (73%) and England’s towns (70%). Households take home £71K a year before tax, on average. Unemployment benefit claims reached 1.7% of 16 to 64s in 2026.
13%walk, cycle or ride
How commuters got to work · March 2021
Driving83%
Train6%
On foot4%
Bicycle2%
Bus1%
18%
of commuters travel under 5 km · England 45%
45%
worked mainly from home in March 2021
£71K
mean household income, before tax
1.7%
of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits (2026)
C+
Walkability: more walkable than 44% of UK towns
ONS Census 2021, method of travel and distance to work · ONS small-area income · DWP claimant count · OGL
Who lives here
Fewer children live in Datchworth than in Hertfordshire’s towns or England’s towns: 13% are under 15
The share aged 15 to 24 is 10%. People 65 and over make up 28% of the town, above Hertfordshire’s towns (17%) and England’s towns (18%) alike. Half of Datchworth is older than 52.1, half younger.
52.1median age
DatchworthHertfordshireEngland
Ages · share of residents
28%
Qualifications · residents 16 and older
No qualifications14%
Apprenticeship4%
A levels or similar18%
Degree level36%
Women and men · all residents
51% women, 49% men
About an even split. Across England, 51% of residents are women.
| Datchworth | Hertfordshire | England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 13% | 19% | 18% |
| 15–24 | 10% | 11% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 15% | 27% | 27% |
| 45–64 | 34% | 26% | 25% |
| 65+ | 28% | 17% | 18% |
| No qualifications | 14% | 15% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship | 4.1% | 4.5% | 5.3% |
| A levels or similar | 18% | 16% | 17% |
| Degree level | 36% | 39% | 34% |
ONS Census 2021 · Hertfordshire and England: all residents of their built-up areas · OGL
Nearby attractions
All attractions →Datchworth Museum and 5 more in and around Datchworth
Museums, castles, gardens and days out in and near Datchworth. Best known first.
MuseumMuseumDatchworth Museumin town
Historic houseKnebworth House3.8 km outside town, to the northwest
MuseumWelwyn Roman Baths3.5 km outside town, to the southwest
ZooCat Survival Trust4 km outside town, to the westAttractionAttractionOld Whipping Postin townHistoric houseHistoric houseHomewood2.7 km outside town, to the west
Historic houseKnebworth House3.8 km outside town, to the northwestMuseumWelwyn Roman Baths3.5 km outside town, to the southwestZooCat Survival Trust4 km outside town, to the westAttractionAttractionOld Whipping Postin townHistoric houseHistoric houseHomewood2.7 km outside town, to the westPlaces: © OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata
Photos: each place’s Wikidata image, from Wikimedia Commons under the licence below (our copy, resized).
Photo credits (3)
- Knebworth House: Heron2 (Heron on en.wikipedia.org), CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Welwyn Roman Baths: Philip White, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Cat Survival Trust: Graham Dean from Rayleigh, England, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Datchworth
14pages on Datchworth
The big questions
SafetyA+8.8 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026Cost of livingC−Median home £635K · rent £1,533 a monthHousing12 sold in 12 months · busiest street NutcroftSchoolsB−1 state schoolHealthALife expectancy 82.1 (men), 87 (women)Work & commuteA59% of working residents work in the townFlood & hazardsB−0.2% of homes at high or medium flood risk
Out and about
Datchworth’s neighbours
The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →
Woolmer GreenKnebworthOaklandsWatton at StoneWelwynCodicoteStevenageDatchworth
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | Miles | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Datchworth | 1,179 | — | — | C− | A+ | A |
| Woolmer Green | 1,409 | 0.9 | — | C | B | A |
| Knebworth | 4,191 | 1.5 | B+ | C | B | B+ |
| Oaklands | 3,960 | 1.8 | A | D | A | A+ |
| Watton at Stone | 2,614 | 1.8 | A+ | C+ | A | A+ |
| Welwyn | 3,906 | 2.9 | A− | D | B | B+ |
| Codicote | 2,677 | 3.3 | A− | C | B+ | B+ |
| Stevenage | 94,462 | 3.9 | C | C | C− | C |
Woolmer Green has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade. People: Census 2021. Miles: centre to centre.
Questions about Datchworth
Is Datchworth expensive to live in?
Homes cost more than in most UK towns: the median sale over three years was £635,000, against £277,000 in the typical UK town. By type: terraced houses £525,000, semi-detached houses £575,000 and detached houses £750,000.
How many listed buildings are there in Datchworth?
That is 5.6 times the typical UK town for its size.
About Datchworth
Village in Hertfordshire, England
Datchworth is a built-up area of 1,179 people, in the East Hertfordshire council area. TownRatings uses ONS’s 2022 built-up areas as towns: the physical town, as people mean the word, rather than a council district, so its figures cover the town itself.
Built from ONS geography and Census 2021
- Population
- 1,179 (Census 2021)
- Council
- East Hertfordshire
- County
- Hertfordshire
- Region
- East of England
- Area
- 0.2 sq mi (0.6 km²)
- ONS code
- E63004247
Sources: ONS Census 2021, output areas summed to the ONS 2022 built-up area · HM Land Registry Price Paid (standard sales, September 2023 to August 2026) · ONS Price Index of Private Rents (August 2026, by council) · MHCLG and Welsh Government council tax, Band D 2026–27 (with parish precepts in England) · data.police.uk street-level crime, 36 months to August 2026, points inside the built-up-area boundary · ONS small-area life expectancy and healthy life expectancy, 2019 to 2023 (England and Wales), OHID Fingertips small-area indicators (England) and Census 2021 health, adjusted for age · ONS small-area income estimates (financial year ending 2023) · DWP claimant count via Nomis (January to August 2026) · Historic England, National Heritage List for England (listed buildings, scheduled monuments, registered parks and gardens, battlefields, World Heritage Sites), October 2026, inside the ONS 2022 built-up-area boundary · Valuation Office Agency, Council Tax: stock of properties by build period (31 March 2025) · TownRatings grades: our own summary of the data, ranked against UK towns only. All under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026 (ONS boundaries). Northern Ireland: Source: NISRA; contains Land & Property Services data and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland information, © Crown copyright, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Scotland: contains National Records of Scotland data, Registers of Scotland data and SEPA data, © Crown copyright / © SEPA 2025, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.